University of Minnesota releases its latest cold-hardy wine grape

April 4, 2016

Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn. – The University of Minnesota is releasing its fifth cold-hardy wine grape and it’s named “Itasca.”

The new grape, which will be used to make dry white wines, is the latest in a series of cold-hardy cultivars released by the university that led to the nascent wine industry in Minnesota and other northern climates around the world. Itasca has lower acidity and high sugar levels, says U of M grape breeder Matt Clark, coupled with high resistance to common grape pests such as downy and powdery mildew and the insect phylloxera. It’s shown cold hardiness as far north as the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Zone 4.

“We believe these traits will make ‘Itasca’ a preferred variety for vineyard managers, because they will be able to reduce their spray inputs, and for winemakers in making a dry-style wine,” says Clark, an assistant professor of horticultural science. Licensed nurseries will begin selling the new cultivar in 2017.

Itasca produces a wine that is light yellow to straw in color and has aromas of pear, quince, violet, melon, minerals, and subtle honey notes. “This is a very nice grape with lots of potential as a wine maker’s grape,” said Bryan Forbes, the university’s winemaker. “It is clean and pleasant with pear and floral notes and mineral notes with a long finish.”

Itasca joins the grapes known as Frontenac, Frontenac Gris, La Crescent and Marquette, all developed by the U of M. The cold-climate grape-growing and winery industry is estimated to have a $401 million economic impact nationwide, a 2014 university study found. Since Frontenac was released in 1996, producers in 12 states have planted an estimated 5,400 acres of cold-hardy grapes, including 3,260 acres of the U of M varieties.

‘Itasca’ was identified in 2009 as an elite seedling and has been known as MN 1285 since 2009; Clark announced the new name at his annual research update for the Minnesota grape industry this weekend at the U’s Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.